Foldable yoke life preserver



1962 B. B. BROWN FOLDABLE YOKE LIFE PRESERVER Filed Jan. 25, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ln lvrr bis 1 .iln lrll n midww Nov. 27, 1962 B. B. BROWN3,065,476

FOLDABLE YOKE LIFE PRESERVER Filed Jan. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent Ofifice 3,065,476 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,055,476FOLDABLE YOKE LIFE PRESERVER Belden B. Brown, Wallacks Point, Stamford,Conn. Filed Jan. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 84,806 7 Claims. (Cl. 9345) Thepresent invention relates to life saving devices and more particularlyto yoke-type life preservers.

Pillow and combined cushion and life-belt life preservers are known.Generally the known combined cushions and life belt preservers consistof life belts or jacket or vest type life preservers that are relativelycumbersome to place into use particularly if the wearer is in the waterwhen he attempts to put the life saving device on. Yoke-type lifepreservers are known, however, these known life preservers requireconsiderable storage space and can only be used exclusively for a lifesaving function.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a foldable,yoke-type life preserver usable as a life saving device, decorativecushion, headrest or pillow easily stored as a compact buoyant foldedunit and readily accessible when needed.

A feature of the yoke-type life preserver according to the invention isthat the life preserver comprises two halves of molded closed cellplastic foam which are buoyant. The two halves are pivotally attachedto' each other so that they may be disposed adjacent in side-by-siderelation in extended condition forming substantially extensions of eachother. One of the halves is provided with a through substantiallycircular opening for receiving the neck of the wearer; The two halvescan be folded so that one overlies the other in registry therewithforming a compact, buoyant folded unit which can be covered to provide adecorative and utilitarian cushion or pillow.

One of the halves forming the body of the life preserver is providedwith an upstanding portion which is received within the neck-receivingopening of the other half of the life preserver when the preserver is ina folded condition so that a pillow or cushion with substantially smoothsurfaces is formed and can be covered as indicated heretofore.

The cover is readily removable to allow quick access to the preserver.In a folded and covered condition the life preserver can be used as alife saving cushion. It can also be opened readily in the waterpermitting the release of the life preserver which being a yoke-typelife preserver, can be readily put into use by a person in the waterwithout the difliculties encountered when attempting to put on a vest orbelt type life preserver while in the water.

Other features and advantages of the yoke-type life preserver inaccordance with the present invention will be better understood asdescribed in the following specification and appended claims, inconjunction with the following drawings, in which:

LFIG.1 is a perspective view of a life preserver according to theinvention and is illustrative of a condition in which two body portionsforming two halves of the life preserver are in an extended side by-sideposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the life preserver shown in FIG. 1 in afolded condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the life preserveraccording to the invention and is illustrative of one method by whichthe body halves are pivtally connected;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the life preserveraccording to the present invention and is illustrative of integralpivoted body halves;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the folded life preserver shown in FIG..2 with a cover thereon;

- FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views of a life preserver coveredaccording to the invention in a folded condition and are illustrative ofthe manner in which the cover can be constructed for easy access to thelife preserver.

According to the drawings a yoke-type life preserver 1 constructedaccording to the invention consists of two halves or body portionscomprising a buoyant first body portion 2 and a second buoyant bodyportion 3. The first portion has a through substantially circularopening 4, extending through to the opposite major face surfacesthereof, for receiving the neck of a wearer of the life preserver and isprovided with a through slit 5 starting at the opening 4 and extendingto a side surface 6 and terminating thereon. The second buoyant bodyportion 3 is formed from two parts 9, 10 defining a narrow slit 12between them which is substantially a continuation of the slit 5 whenthe body halves are disposed adjacent each other in a side-by-sideextended relationship in the manner shown, in FIG. 1. The slits 5, 12are intended to permit the life preserver to be readily donned by thewearer. It is to be understood that at least the one slit 5 is preferredif the preserver is made of relatively inflexible buoyant plasticmaterial. Those skilled in the art can readily appreciate that whererelatively flexible plastic material is used in making the lifepreserver both slits or the longer slit 12 may be disposed with or theother slit 5 made to extend only a part way.

The halves have substantially equal thickness and substantially equalperipheral dimensions and are pivotally connected by heavy fabricstrips, as for example web strips 14, 16, bonded or otherwise secured tobuoyant body portion 2 and the two parts 9 and 10 respectively. Thestrips 14, 16 are bonded or otherwise secured to the life preserveshalves by a water resistant bonding agent and have tear strengthsuflicient to withstand tension comparable to that which the body halvesthemselves can withstand. The strips are flexible so that the bodyportions are positionable face-to-face relative to each other and thebody portion 2 can overlie body portion 3 in registry therewith so thatthe life preserves can be folded into a compact unit in the manner shownin FIG. 2 and when the body portions are in an extended condition asmall space is formed between them.

The two parts 9, 10 forming the second body half have an upstandingplug-like insert portion 18 which has substantially the same transversedimensions as the transverse dimensions of the opening 4 and is receivedtherein in the manner shown in FIG. 2 when the life preserver is foldedinto a compact folded unit. The plug-like element serves also to holdthe two halves from excessive relative movement when in a foldedcondition and the life preserver is being used as a cushion or headrest.The life preserver is worn in the manner of a bib with the pluglikeinsert portion 18 extending forwardly of the wearer and is provided withsuitable tie-straps, for example a pair of web straps 20 secured to thebody portion 2 and a pair of straps 21 secured to respective parts ofthe portion 3 through openings 23, 24 in the manner shown and which maybe suitably provided with snaps or other securing means, not shown, ifdesired.

The two body halves are preferably made of a buoyant plastic, forexample, a unicellular vinyl or foam formed by treatment of a suitablepolyester. The plastic material is of sufficient thickness and area tobuoy up or sustain the wearer of a given weight depending on theindividual preserver. The body portions preferably have the zone or areain which the openings or holes 23, 24 are disposed and the areas towhich the strips 14, 16 are bonded made of a strengthened plasticmaterial to insure adequate strength in these areas. The opening 4 issuitably disposed on the body portion 2 providing a sufiicient distanceor space 26 between the opening and a side or end surface 27 of bodyportion 2 so that the head of the wearer of the life preserver is buoyedup and held up comparable to the function of a collar on a vest lifejacket or preserver.

While the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has the strips 14, 16 bonded orotherwise secured to corresponding face surfaces of the two portions 2,3 another embodiment of the life preserver is the use of strap hinges orweb strips 29, 30 mounted on the side surfaces 31, 32 of two body halves34, 35 of a life preserver in the manner shown in FIG. 3. The straphinges may be bonded or molded directly into the plastic therein andform a strap hinge operable somewhat comparable to butt-hingeswhen theabutting sides 31, 32 are placed in adjacent, sub stantially abuttingrelationship when the jacket is in an extended position comparable tothe manner shown in FIG. 1.

The life-preserver is constructable in the manner shown in FIG. 4 withtwo body halves 37, 38 joined along an adjoining edge 39 of the bodyportions. In this instance the plastic joining the body portions issufficiently reduced in thickness to permit face-to-face positioning ofthe body halves 37, 38 in registry in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Itwill be understood that the plastic in this instance along the area '39is of suflicient strength to withstand repetitive flexure and thestresses to which the jacket would normally be subjected to in use by awearer jumping into the water or while in the water.

It will be understood that in the various embodiments described theconfiguration of the life preservers is the same and each of theembodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are provided with insert portions,not shown, cooperative with neck-receiving openings 40, 41 in therespective body halves 34 and 37. In each case strap means are provided,as shown, and heretofore described for strapping on the life preserveron the body of the wearer.

The life preserver according to the invention is preferably made of amaterial which will not compact so that when the preserver is in afolded condition in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 it may be used asa headrest pillows or cushion. Preferably the life preserver is coveredwith a casing or cover 43 in the manner shown in FIG. 5. The cover 43 ispreferably made of a decorative, water repellent material and may beprovided with breather holes, not shown, to provide breathing of thelife preserver in the event that the preserver is constructed of amaterial requiring access to the atmosphere or while drying out afteruse. When the life preserver is in a folded condition internally of thecasing or cover 43 as shown in FIG. 6, the insert 18 is flush with thecorresponding surfaces of the two halves of the life preserver so that asmooth compact unit usable as a pillow or cushion is formed.

A handle 45 is mounted on an edge of a panel of the cover which provideseasy removal of the preserver from the cover. The cover is provided withstraps 46 secured thereto so that the covered preserver can be used inthe manner comparable to a life ring when a user is in the water and hewishes to hang on to the buoyant cushion rather than remove thepreserver from its cover. In order to provide easy access to the lifepreserver and quick re- 'moval of the casing or cover 43 the cover isprovided with of a cover 56 in a construction of the type shown in FIG.9 on seams corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The rust-proofsnaps are made of brass or some similar rust-proof material.

It is to be understood that the two body halves or portions of each ofthe embodiments of the life preservers illustrated and described can bemade by molding the halves or alternatively the body halves can be madefrom sheets of suitable buoyant plastic material which are themselvesmolded or otherwise formed and then cut to dimension. Moreover, the lifepreservers are preferably dipped in known manner in a suitableself-vulcanizing plastic material that will strengthen the various bondsand increase the tear strength of the body halves and other componentbody parts of the life preservers.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed it will be understood that many modifications and changes canbe made within the scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A foldable, yoke-type life preserver comprising, two halvescomprising a buoyant first body portion having a through opening spacedinwardly from the edges of said first body portion in a major facesurface of the body thereof for receiving therein the neck of a wearerof the life-preserver and having a substantially rectangularconfiguration, a buoyant second body portion pivotally fixed to saidfirst body portion in adjacent side-by-side relation and positionablerelative the first body portion in face-toface relationship so that onebody portion overlies the other in registry therewith so that said lifepreserver is foldable into a compact, buoyant, folded unit usable as acushion in a folded condition and in said side-by-side relation thelife-preserver is in extended condition and said body portions formsubstantially an extension of each other, said second body portionhaving substantially the same peripheral dimensions and peripheralconfiguration as said first body portion, flexible means pivotallyconnecting said two portions having a part thereof between said portionsand dimensioned to allow said portions to overlie one another when in afolded condition and to be positioned forming a continuation of eachother when the two body portions are in said extended condition, andmeans to secure the life preserver on the body of a wearer thereof.

2. A foldable, yoke-type life preserver comprising, two halvescomprising a buoyant first body'portion having a through opening in amajor face surface of the body thereof for receiving therein the neck ofa wearer of the life-preserver and having a through slit starting atsaid opening and terminating on a side surface spaced from said opening,a buoyant second body portion pivotally fixed to said first body portionin adjacent side-by-side relation and positionable relative the firstbody portion in face-to-facerelationship so that one body portionoverlies the other in registry therewith so that said life preserver isfoldable into a compact, buoyant, folded unit and in said side-by-siderelation the life-preserver is in extended condition and said bodyportions form substantially an extension of each other, said second bodyportion comprising two next adjacent parts spaced apart defining a slitbetween them corresponding to the first-mentioned slit and forming acontinuation thereof when the two .body portions are in said extendedcondition, an upstanding plug-like insert portion fixed to and extendingnormal to said second body portion parts corresponding substantially intransverse dimension to the transverse dimension of said opening andinsertable in said opening when one body portion overlies the other,said body portions being of substantially equal thickness and havingsubstantially equal corresponding peripheral dimensions, said upstandinginsert portion having a height substantially equal to the thickness ofsaid first body portion at least in the vicinity of said opening, andmeans to secure the life preserver on the body of a wearer thereof.

3. A foldable yoke-type life preserver comprising, two plastic halvescomprising a buoyant, plastic, first body portion having a throughopening in a major face surface of the body thereof for receivingtherein the neck of a wearer of the life-preserver and having a throughslit starting at said opening and terminating on a side surface spacedfrom said opening, a buoyant, plastic second body portion integral withsaid first body portion in adjacent side-by-side relation andpositionable relative the first body portion in face-to-facerelationship so that one body portion overlies the other in registrytherewith so that said life preserver is foldable into a compact,buoyant, folded unit and in said side-by-side relation thelife-preserver is in extended condition and said body portions formsubstantially an extension of each other, said second body portioncomprising two next adjacent parts spaced apart defining a slit betweenthem corresponding to the first-mentioned slit and forming acontinuation thereof when the two body portions are in said extendedcondition, an upstanding plug-like insert portion integral with saidsecond body portion parts extending normal to said second body portionparts and insertable in said opening when one body portion overlies theother, and means to secure the life preserver on the body of a wearerthereof.

4. A foldable, yoke-type life preserver comprising, two plastic halvescomprising a buoyant, molded plastic, first body portion having athrough substantially circular opening in a major face surface of thebody thereof for receiving therein the neck of a wearer of thelife-preserver and having a through slit starting at said opening andterminating on a side surface spaced from said opening, a buoyant,molded plastic second body portion pivotally fixed to said first bodyportion in adjacent side-by-side relation and positionable relative thefirst body portion in face-to-face relationship so that one body portionoverlies the other in registry therewith so that said life preserver isfoldable into a compact, buoyant, folded unit and in said side-by-siderelation the life-preserver is in extended condition and said bodyportions form substantially an extension of each other, said second bodyportion comprising two next adjacent parts spaced apart defining a slitbetween them corresponding to the first-mentioned slit and forming acontinuation thereof when the two body portions are in said extendedcondition, an upstanding plug-like insert portion fixed to and extendingnormal to said second body portion parts and insertable in said openingwhen one body portion overlies the other, and means to secure the lifepreserver on the body of a wearer thereof.

5. A foldable yoke-type life preserver comprising, two halves comprisinga buoyant first body portion having a through opening in a major facesurface of the body thereof for receiving therein the neck of a wearerof the life-preserver and having a through slit starting at said openingand terminating on a side surface spaced from said opening, a buoyantsecond body portion pivotally fixed to said first body portion inadjacent side-by-side relation and positionable relative the first bodyportion in face-to-face relationship so that one body portion overliesthe other in registry therewith so that said life preserver is foldableinto a compact, buoyant, folded unit and in said side-by-side relationthe life-preserver is in extended condition and said body portions formsubstantially an extension of each other, said second body portioncomprising two next adjacent parts spaced apart defining a slit betweenthem corresponding to the first-mentioned slit and forming acontinuation thereof when the two body portions are in said extendedcondition, means pivotally fixing said two parts to said first bodyportion, an upstanding plug-like insert portion fixed to and extendingnormal to said second body portion parts and insertable in said openingwhen one body portion overlies the other, and means to secure the lifepreserver on the body of a wearer thereof.

6. A foldable yoke-type life preserver comprising, two halves comprisinga buoyant first body portion having a through opening in a major facesurface of the body thereof for receiving therein the neck of a wearerof the life-preserver and having a through slit starting at said openingand terminating on a side surface spaced from said opening, a buoyantsecond body portion pivotally fixed to said first body portion inadjacent side-by-side relation and positionable relative the first bodyportion in face-to-face relationship so that one body portion over liesthe other in registry therewith so that said life preserver is foldableinto a compact, buoyant, folded unit and in said side-by-side relationthe life-preserver is in extended condition and said body portions for-msubstantially an extension of each other, said second body portioncomprising two next adjacent parts spaced apart defining a slit betweenthem corresponding to the firstmentioned slit and forming a continuationthereof when the two body portions are in said extended condition,flexible strap means pivotally fixing said two parts to said first bodyportion, an upstanding plug-like insert portion fixed to and extendingnormal to said second body portion parts corresponding substantially intransverse dimension to the transverse dimension of said opening andinsertable in said opening when one body portion overlies the other,said body portions being of substantially equal thickness and havingsubstantially equal corresponding peripheral dimensions, said upstandinginsert portion having a height substantially equal to the thickness ofsaid first body portion at least in the vicinity of said opening, andmeans to secure the life preserver on the body of a wearer thereof.

7. A foldable, yoke-type life preserver comprising, two halvescomprising a buoyant first body portion having a through opening in amajor face surface of the body thereof for receiving therein the neck ofa wearer of the life-preserver and having a through slit starting atsaid opening and terminating on a side surface spaced from said opening,a buoyant second body portion pivotally fixed to said first body portionin adjacent side-by-side relation and positionable relative the firstbody portion in face-to-face relationship so that one body portionoverlies the other in registry therewith so that said life preserver isfoldable into a compact, buoyant, folded unit and in said side-by-siderelation the life-preserver is in extended condition and said bodyportions form substantially an extension of each other, said second bodyportion comprising two next adjacent parts spaced apart defining a slitbetween them corresponding to the first-mentioned slit and forming acontinuation thereof when the two body portions are in said extendedcondition, an upstanding plug-like insert portion fixed to and extendingnormal to said second body portion parts and insertable in said openingwhen one body portion overlies the other, and means to secure the lifepreserver on the body of a wearer thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,002,701 Kasztriner Sept. 5, 1911 2,374,580 Brown Apr. 24, 19452,623,574 Damsch Dec. 30, 1952 2,724,133 Sorrell Nov. 22, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 6,433 Great Britain '19'14

